The coalition, in sync with the mission of CAPEDC, is tasked with educating the community – from the school age-children to senior citizens – about the dangers of opioids, heroin, alcohol and other drugs. According to NYS state statistics, the number of opioid-related deaths rose 47 percent across New York between 2010 and 2014. That is a startling figure!

The increase, which is fueled by heroin abuse, is part of a national trend, but the new statistics from the department show just how stark the problem has become across the state, particularly outside New York City. Dutchess County had the highest rate of opioid-related overdose fatalities among its residents from 2009-2013 in counties with 20 or more deaths, at a rate of 5.5 per 100,000 people. Suffolk and Bronx counties were ranked second and third. Poughkeepsie Journal, May 2015

“Opioid addiction is a national epidemic that continues to plague families in communities across New York,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said when he announced a new drug task force.